Ecclesia - THE TRUE CHURCH - THE INVISIBLE BODY CONSISTING OF GENUINE INDIVIDUAL BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS - IT IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
At present the Ecclesia is a virgin espoused. Paul wrote "For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:1-2. In his day espousal, betrothal was as sacred as marriage.
In the Hebrew writings we can see two types of the bride of Christ.
TYPE ONE.
To understand this from God's point of view let us look at
something very basic that has been twisted a bit by myth. We shall see
that a rib is not always a rib. Let us look.
The first Adam was given a bride by God. After living alone for a time, God put Adam to sleep and took a TSETA from Adam's body, and made a woman. The Hebrew word 'tseta' does not denote a 'rib',
but is the same word used for the support beams used to support the original
Temple of the chambers in the Temple building.
1 Kings 6:5-8.
When God presented the woman to Adam, he said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." Genesis:2:21-24.
So, the second Adam, Jesus, must have a bride also.
Now Jesus, during His life on earth lived alone as a man, like Adam. He slept the sleep of death, and out of His side, as a result of His offering for mankind, there came, through the Holy Spirit, the Ecclesia. For only through faith in Jesus' offering for our sin can we be saved.
Romans 10:9.
We , of the Ecclesia can say like Adam, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Messiah, the Christ and the church" - speaking of the invisible body of born-again believing individuals in the world. Ephesians 5:29-33. This is the third secret of Ephesians.
As the woman was presented to Adam by God, so those called-out by God for Christ who loves the bride, and gives Himself up for it, IN ORDER that He should be making holy (cleansing it in the bath of Blood, in a declaration , in order that He should be presenting to Himself a glorified Bride. This is we who believe.
TYPE TWO
Abraham instructed his trusted servant Eliezer with, "So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, ...you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac." Genesis 24:12-14
Abraham is a type of God the Father.
Sarah is a type of Israel.
Isaac is a type of the Holy Spirit.
Rebekah is a type of the Ecclesia.
God the Father sent the Holy Spirit unto this world to collect the chosen wife for His only Son, Meshiach Yeshua, Christ Jesus. When the full number of the Ecclesia - the invisible body of born-again believers - is complete, the Holy Spirit will take her to the Father's home. Christ will come out to meet her in the air, in the end of this dispensation. Thessalonians 4:15-17.
THE TWO BRIDES